Monday, December 16, 2013

To help keep the season festive, here's a fresh compilation of U.N.C.L.E. music. Some of it is the familiar pack of different versions of the theme, or melodies from the show. But, as K-Tel used to say: But wait, THERE'S MORE!

The first grouping of songs comprises releases that sample U.N.C.L.E. themes as background to their own work.

The rest of the disc contains both variations on U.N.C.L.E. themes, and pop songs that refer to the series. These may be about a character -- as in The Birdmen of Alkatraz's 1989 "April Dancer."

And then we have songs whose titles refer to the show, but otherwise the listener would have no idea that the tune is related. It may be that the music was cranked out to fill up a kiddie record, or given the title as a whim. But some of those songs are here, too!

It's a great privilege and pleasure to also include three special versions of Jerry Goldsmith's theme. Track 21 is performed by The Illuminoids, a surf guitar band who will satisfy your soul if you want sunbaked rock'n'roll. I've been talking with band member William, which led to my being the cover designer for their most recent CD single, which actually includes this arrangement! (Of course it appears in this compilation with their permission.)

Another U.N.C.L.E. fan and friend is Robert Bruce, who graciously has shared some of his own U.N.C.L.E. themes collection with me. These songs were promptly shoveled into the mix! But Tracks 22 and 23 are live recordings of Bruce and accompanists playing lounge versions of a couple of U.N.C.L.E. tunes.

The last track of the CD is an arrangement courtesy of U.N.C.L.E. fan Robert Short, a graphics and design whiz who's worked on about a gazillion TV shows and movies.

01. Man from U.N.C.L.E. Promo - NBC, 1965 (0:14)

02. Harlem Shuffle (live) - Open Channel D (5:25) 1983

03. Twiggy Twiggy - Pizzicato Five (4:08)1991

04. Lucid Dream - Meat Beat Manifesto (2:12)1996

05. Une Very Stylish Fille - Dimitri from Paris (3:17)1996

06. Dirty Larry - Dimitri from Paris (7:25)1996

07. The Legend of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Paula and the Jetliners (2:14)1966

About Me

I was born at a very early age, in a hospital to be near my mother. After appearing in productions of both GODSPELL and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in the 1970s, I found a wonderful wife and wrote many love songs to her, but not as many love songs as I write to God my Savior and Redeemer. We have three kids (one of each) -- wait for it -- blonde, brunette, and redhead.